NRL Round 21 - Raiders Vs Knights - 2:00pm Sunday 27th July - GIO Stadium, Canberra

[Wicket]

Not blaming the refs and bunker for the loss but we were deadset robbed on multiple occasions this afternoon. The standard of refereeing is terrible right now.

They ref to an agenda. They bottom teams always get dud calls and the top teams get the favourable calls eg the Starling try

It’s how it’s been for years, but it’s gotten worse since the introduction of the 6 again rule

 

[Mr Goanna]

well...um...at least we didn't concede 50

 

[Mclovin]

well...um...at least we didn't concede 50

What I'm hearing is there is a chance to win the grand final

 

[Defence wins games]

That was bad D, but Marz hasn't defused one bomb.

Can't move him into the backrow or even the centres because his D is awful.

The opposition is taking advantage of him every week. It might be time to look at other options.

What about moving Hunt back there on the last couple of tackles in each set.
I see other teams doing it.

 

[Defence wins games]

Most points scored on us this season, kind of glad it was the Raiders and not someone down the bottom of the ladder

Plus it doesn’t hurt as much when the Knight Raiders defeat us, we have a heap of our ex players in their team.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

That makes it WAY worse

 

[sherpa]

I think you have a give Ricky S some credit for the team he has created, without any superstars, just solid players who compete right across the park.

 

[Seano]

Gamble should never have started he is a bench player that’s it

Is it bad that Gamble was first choice at the start of the season? At least last week was unlucky, I'm finding it hard to find the positives out of that effort. Surprised the Sack AOB thread is not going off. Especially with us firming for the spoon.

 

[frankLauda]

I think people are done talking about it. I know myself I’ve lost interest in this year now. I’m happy to see some new teams in Canberra and the Dogs come into contention but also deflated it’s not us. As I think why AOB should be gone. But there’s arguments to stick with him. We’ve had a rough season with injury.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

I think you have a give Ricky S some credit for the team he has created, without any superstars, just solid players who compete right across the park.

Counterpoint: That team has been stacked for years and he’s underachieved most of the time he’s been there.

We’re all stroking ourselves silly about the prospect of Trey Mooney coming to our club and starting for us and he can’t crack their 17.

Best recruitment guys in the comp.

 

[Kurriboy]

Is it bad that Gamble was first choice at the start of the season? At least last week was unlucky, I'm finding it hard to find the positives out of that effort. Surprised the Sack AOB thread is not going off. Especially with us firming for the spoon.

Meh, I can't be bothered with it anymore.

Whatever will be will be.

Spoons are nothing new for Newcastle.

 

[Chaister]

Best recruitment guys in the comp.

I think I read somewhere that Carbone (the Raider’s recruitment manager) has signed with the Roosters for next year. If he holds onto his obsession with Knights players that’s a really scary proposition for us as it’s a lot easier to sell the Bondi Roosters with Politis money.

 

[jamesgould]

Meh, I can't be bothered with it anymore.

Whatever will be will be.

Spoons are nothing new for Newcastle.

That Warriors game seriously took the remainder of my Knights life-force for the season. Just let it end!!! lol

 

[HarVeeGee13]

I think I read somewhere that Carbone (the Raider’s recruitment manager) has signed with the Roosters for next year. If he holds onto his obsession with Knights players that’s a really scary proposition for us as it’s a lot easier to sell the Bondi Roosters with Politis money.

I reckon they go after Knights players because the Newcastle -> Canberra transition is easier to sell. They can only recruit guys who'll happily play for a regional centre so they fish where the fish might bite.

At the Roosters I'd guess he'd be more likely to pick the eyes out of the pathways players from other Sydney clubs.

Obviously a scary prospect if I'm wrong about that.

 

[MattyM]

That Warriors game seriously took the remainder of my Knights life-force for the season. Just let it end!!! lol

I was so done after the Tigers beat us in April at home. I knew it was gonna be a miserable season after that.

 

[Sarge]

I think you have a give Ricky S some credit for the team he has created, without any superstars, just solid players who compete right across the park.

Except for a couple of forwards , prob got the most even salary spread of any team in the comp ?

 

[Vagabond89]

Except for a couple of forwards , prob got the most even salary spread of any team in the comp ?

The crunch time will conlme when all the kids on unders want big upgrades at the same time. They'll be hoping they can hold onto them when they hit their prime years.

 

[sherpa]

They must be doing something right, moving to Canberra for average money can't be an easy sell. We can't get anyone decent unless we throw crazy money at them and that has got us nowhere.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Their old approach was a core of good juniors and they supplement that with experienced players from other clubs, circa 2016 they shifted to poaching young guys from other teams who were on the precipice of regular first grade, whether they were Flegg/Cup guns or guys who'd played a bit of firsts but hadn't been able to nail down a spot. On top of that there were the English guys they've nabbed too of course. Very few "local juniors" in their side right now but you can't question it as local players have simply been squeezed out by better young recruits. To sum up the recruitment approach simply: undervalued talent. The young halves prospects who can't get a game over Moses/Brown or Walker/Keary are probably pretty good, so that's who they chased. A 21 year old prop who's played a fair bit of Cup and done well, and has been 18th man in first grade a few times but hasn't cracked it yet is probably someone who can contribute for our team soon. Etc.

Good news for us is I don't think it's wildly different from where POS is shifting his approach, yes he signed Brown on massive money, but the other moves have been mostly (besides locking down our best locals) guys just below cracking grade regularly. Lachlan Crouch is the most Canberra Raidersy signing we've made probably.

 

[slotmachine]

We’re all stroking ourselves silly about the prospect of Trey Mooney coming to our club and starting for us and he can’t crack their 17.

That says more about the Knights laughable recruitment than how good Mooney is.

As for the Raiders and Knights players they pick up the ones we tell to pack their bags, they haven't stolen one we wanted to keep since Tapine 10 years ago.